Tip Tuesday! 3 reasons COBRA will live on after Obamacare

By Jared Bilski

 

A number of prominent benefits experts and industry groups have said the creation of the Obamacare exchanges will essentially kill the need for COBRA coverage. But there may be some serious holes in their reasoning.

 

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Help managers keep their people motivated in uncertain times

By Tim Gould

It’s one of the biggest challenges a line manager can face: Keeping engagement, performance and morale high during times of change. And, Lord knows, there’s an awful lot of change afoot in American business today.

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How to turn a $40K worker into a 401k millionaire

By Christian Schappel

 

You don’t have to make a six- or seven-figure salary to be able to accumulate $1 million in your 401k account by the time you hit retirement age. Even the average Joe can do it!

That news is sure to perk up the ears of your workforce as you attempt to drum up increased participation in your company 401k plan.

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‘Have you spoken to the carriers,' Mr. President?

By Gillian Roberts

Immediately following President Obama’s pledge Thursday that insurance carriers can offer a one-year renewal of plans that were cancelled for not complying with the ACA, industry members were already warning of numerous practical obstacles.

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Tip Tuesday! Obama admits fault in health reform rollout, tries to let employers keep plans

By Christian Schappel

Small employers disappointed that their current health plans will get canned in 2014 due to Obamacare could – added emphasis on could – see those plans get a second life.

In a sobering news conference at the White House, President Obama took the blame for the botched rollout of his signature law and his inability to make good on a promise to allow Americans and small employers to keep their current health plans if they liked them.

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4 upcoming Supreme Court rulings with major benefits & comp implications

By Christian Schappel

 

The Supreme Court’s current term won’t end until June 30, 2014. And between now and then, it’s expected to hand down four rulings that could significantly impact the benefits and compensation landscape.
Here are the questions the High Court is expected to answer in the coming months — and the potential fallout from each:

1. When does a statute of limitations period begin?

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Complete year-end nondiscrimination testing ASAP

By Kevin Semanick

The end of the year brings celebration and holidays. It is also time to stop procrastinating on the annual to-do list. For HR professionals, mid-year nondiscrimination testing needs to be at the top of that list.

Waiting to test until the completion of the year can have severe negative consequences. Any pre-taxed benefits enjoyed by highly compensated employees in discriminatory health and welfare plans must be included in gross income and taxed accordingly

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Tip Tuesday! Vets’ Affirmative Action Deadline—March 24, 2014

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Here are some of the other important changes included in the final affirmative action rule:

The incorporation of specific equal opportunity (EO) clause language in subcontracts. In order to incorporate the equal opportunity clause by reference in subcontracts, contractors must include specific language spelled out in the new regulations. This language notifies subcontractors of their responsibilities and includes a reference to “veteran status.” The reference to veteran status must also be included in the EO clause when listing vacant positions.

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Breaking down the feds’ final Mental Health Parity rule

By Jared Bilski

 

After reviewing nearly 6,000 public comments, the DOL, HHS and Treasury just released the final rule on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

Here’s a summary of what it does. As HR pros know, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was created to close the gap — and create “parity” — between the medical coverage individuals with physical illnesses receive versus that available to those with mental health and/or substance-abuse issues.

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Contraception provision of ACA to be reviewed by Supreme Court?

By Tim Gould

 

Looks like Obamacare could be coming before the Supreme Court once again. Don’t get too excited, though — the case involves just one provision of the Affordable Care Act.  
In an unusual move, Hobby Lobby, a chain of craft-supply stores that describes itself as “Christian-owned and operated,” has asked the Supreme Court to review the section of the ACA that requires employers to provide and pay for contraceptives.

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Tip Tuesday! FSA Use-It-or-Lose-It-Rule Modified

By Stephen Miller, CEBS

IRS permits carryover of $500 annually; employers must end grace period to allow rollover

Health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are becoming more flexible. New federal guidance permits employers to allow workers to carry over unused amounts of up to $500 for expenses in the next year and still contribute up to $2,500 annually.

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